International-Animal-Rescue-Foundation-World-Action-South Africa

Cowboy_Ken

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(WARNING PICTURE MAYBE UNSUITABLE FOR SOME MEMBERS,)

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Welcome to Madagascar:

Tortoise POACHING on the island of Madagascar is officially OUT OF CONTROL.

Habitat destruction, bush meat trade, habitat fragmentation, deforestation, slash and burn, unsustainable agriculture and TORTOISE POACHING is increasing on Madagascar. TORTOISE POACHING is NOW OUT OF CONTROL.

The image you witness here is the sad trail of destruction caused by poachers that are killing critically endangered tortoise, selling their meat on and leaving a trail of destruction in their path. Tortoise stand no chance on this small Africans island and have nowhere else to hide from killer poachers.

The scenes are heartbreaking and emotionally upsetting. Illegal trafficking of two critically endangered tortoise species from Madagascar has reached epidemic proportions, according to the Wildlife Conservation Society, Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, Turtle Survival Alliance, Madagascar Biodiversity Partnership, Turtle Conservancy, Conservation International, World Wildlife Fund and other groups who urge authorities to clamp down on wildlife smuggling before some species are collected out of existence.

According to the groups, more than 1,000 radiated and ploughshare tortoises have been confiscated from smugglers in the first three months of 2013 alone. In late March, 54 ploughshare tortoises made it as far as Thailand before being seized by authorities. A recent report by TRAFFIC states that the radiated tortoise is now the most common tortoise for sale in Bangkok's infamous Chatuchak wildlife market.

The groups say that since the beginning of Madagascar’s continuing political crisis in 2009, smuggling has increased by at least ten-fold due to weak governance and rule-of-law. In addition, erosion of cultural protection of the tortoises for short term monetary gain has contributed to their sharp decline. In the past, tortoises were protected by “fady” – a local belief that harming the tortoises is taboo. However, with years of drought and increasing levels of poverty, people from regions outside the tortoise’s natural range, who do not practice these types of fady, are capturing and illegally selling tortoises.

“These tortoises are truly one of Madagascar’s most iconic species,” said James Deutsch, WCS Executive Director for Africa Programs. “This level of exploitation is unsustainable. Unless immediate action is taken to better protect the wild populations, their extinction is imminent.”

There are seven categories of protected areas which account for 3% of the total land area: Strict Nature Reserves (11 totaling 5,695 km2); Special Reserves (23 totaling 3,774 km2); National Parks (5 totaling 1,754 km2); Hunting Reserves; Classified Forests (40,234 km2); Reforestation or Restoration area (10,448 km2); and Forestry Stations (23 totaling 3 km2). Protected Areas in Madagascar.

Stay tuned for more updates.........
 

Star-of-India

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Feb 18, 2014
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Shocking to see the carnage. The people of Madagascar need a lot of help to overcome their problems and that will be ultimately the only way to stem this slaughter.
 

enchilada

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I wouldnt count on the Madagascar government nor the people to protect the wildlife. The government can barely keep itself stable and the people are struggling to feed themselves.
I think the best way is to move as many endangered species as we can (tortoises, lemurs,birds...) to rehabilitation facilities in US and Europe, make captive breeding first priority .

It would be great if those rehabilitation facilities can sell certified CB individuals to the public to help funding conservation.
 

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